Surgical staple cartridges

• US 8,800,841 B2
• Filed: 03/15/2011
• Issued: 08/12/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 03/15/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ethicon Endo-Surgery, Inc. (Johnson & Johnson)
• Original Assignee: Ethicon Endo-Surgery, Inc. (Johnson & Johnson)
• Inventors: Ellerhorst, Claire E., Swayze, Jeffrey S., Isaacs, Karen K., Kruth, Robert P., Swindon, Patrick J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Tecco, Andrew M
• Assistant Examiner(s): CHUKWURAH, NATHANIEL C
• Application Number:
  US13/048,598
• Publication Number:
  US 20120234896A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,246 Days
• Field of Search: 227/19, 227/175.1, 227/176.1, 227/178.1, 227/179.1, 227/180.1, 606/219
• US Class Current: 227/176.1
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/07207 the staples being applied sequentially
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00473 Distal part, e.g. tip or head A61B2017/00464 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00477 Coupling A61B2017/0046 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/07271 characterised by its cartridge

Abstract

Surgical staple cartridge and channel assemblies for attachment to a surgical cutting and stapling instrument.

Claims

1. An integrated surgical fastener cartridge assembly comprising:

an elongated channel configured for removable attachment to a distal frame portion of a surgical instrument, said elongated channel including an attachment portion comprising;

a wedge-shaped portion including an angled engagement surface formed at an acute angle relative to another portion of the elongate channel and being configured for wedging engagement with a corresponding complimentary shaped surface on the distal frame portion; and

a locking member for releasably retaining said wedge-shaped portion in wedging engagement with the distal frame portion and wherein said integrated surgical fastener cartridge assembly further comprises a cartridge body supported in said elongated channel and operably supporting a plurality of tissue fasteners therein.

2. The integrated surgical fastener cartridge assembly of claim 1 wherein said locking member comprises at least one locking tab on said attachment portion for releasable engagement with the distal frame portion.

3. The integrated surgical fastener cartridge assembly of claim 2 wherein said at least one locking tab is formed on a spring arm that is biasable between an engaged and an unengaged position.

4. The integrated surgical fastener cartridge assembly of claim 1 wherein said locking member comprises at least one locking tab on the distal frame portion for releasable engagement with said attachment portion.

5. The integrated surgical fastener cartridge assembly of claim 4 wherein said at least one locking tab is formed on a spring arm that is biasable between an engaged and an unengaged position.

6. The integrated surgical fastener cartridge assembly of claim 1 wherein said locking member comprises a locking ring supported on the distal frame portion and having at least one locking tab thereon for retainingly engaging said attachment portion of said elongated channel.

7. The integrated surgical fastener cartridge assembly of claim 6 wherein said locking ring has two tabs thereon and is rotatably supported on the distal frame portion for rotation thereon between two attachment positions.

8. The integrated surgical fastener cartridge assembly of claim 6 wherein at least one of said at least one locking tab has at least one tapered surface thereon such that when said at least one locking tab is in retaining engagement with said attachment portion, said attachment portion of said elongated channel is urged proximally into retaining engagement with the distal frame portion.

9. The integrated surgical fastener cartridge assembly of claim 1 wherein the surgical instrument has an anvil that is selectively movable relative to said integrated surgical staple cartridge assembly but is not attached to said elongated channel.

10. The integrated surgical fastener cartridge assembly of claim 1 wherein said tissue fasteners comprise surgical staples.

11. A surgical staple cartridge for use with surgical stapling instruments having a distal frame portion and an anvil movably supported thereon, said surgical staple cartridge comprising:

an elongated channel having a proximal end portion for releasable attachment to the distal frame portion, said proximal end portion of said elongated channel including at least one angled portion including an engagement surface formed at an acute angle relative to another portion of the elongated channel and being shaped for wedging engagement with a corresponding complimentary shaped surface on the distal frame portion;

a selectively movable locking member for releasable engagement with one of the distal frame portion and said elongated channel, such that when said locking member is in an engaged position, said at least one angled portion of said elongated channel is urged proximally into wedging engagement with the corresponding complementary shaped surface on the distal frame portion and said elongated channel is releasably affixed to the distal frame portion; and

a staple cartridge operably supported within said elongated channel and operably supporting a plurality of staples therein.

12. The surgical staple cartridge of claim 11 wherein said at least one selectively movable locking member is formed on a spring arm that is biasable between an engaged and an unengaged position.

13. The surgical staple cartridge of claim 12 wherein said spring arm is formed on said elongated channel.

14. The surgical staple cartridge of claim 12 wherein said spring arm is formed on the distal frame portion.

15. The surgical staple cartridge of claim 11 wherein said selectively movable locking member comprises a locking ring supported on the distal frame portion and having at least one locking tab thereon for retainingly engaging said proximal end portion of said elongated channel.

16. The surgical staple cartridge of claim 15 wherein said locking ring has two tabs thereon and is rotatably supported on the distal frame portion for rotation thereon between two attachment positions.

17. A surgical instrument comprising:

a distal frame portion;

an integrated surgical staple cartridge assembly comprising;

an elongated channel having a proximal end portion for releasable attachment to said distal frame portion, said proximal end portion of said elongated channel having at least one angled portion formed at an acute angle relative to another portion of the elongated channel and being shaped for wedging engagement with a corresponding complimentary shaped surface on said distal frame portion; and

a staple cartridge operably supported within said elongated channel and operably supporting a plurality of surgical staples therein and wherein said surgical instrument further comprises a selectively movable locking member for releasable engagement with one of said distal frame portion and said elongated channel such that when said locking member is in an engaged position, said at least one angled portion of said elongated channel is urged proximally into wedging engagement with the corresponding complementary shaped surface on said distal frame portion and said elongated channel is releasably affixed to the distal frame portion.

18. The surgical instrument of claim 17 further comprising an anvil movably supported on said distal frame portion.

19. The surgical instrument of claim 18 further comprising a closure member supported on said distal frame portion for selectively applying closing and opening motions to said anvil.

20. The surgical instrument of claim 19 further comprising a cutting member movably supported within said distal frame portion and being selectively advanceable through an elongated slot in said staple cartridge.